OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like San Diego, CA 92139

San Diego: median income $95,653, home value $630,800, $507/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98198 91%1,053$86,239$589,500$361 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Seattle, WA 98168 89%1,060$88,083$548,000$369 cheaper homes ($83K less) · older homes
Honolulu, HI 96819 86%2,614$99,848$954,600$477 pricier homes ($324K more)
Kent, WA 98030 86%1,052$91,761$582,400$319 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Lynnwood, WA 98036 86%1,080$88,958$759,900$437 pricier homes ($129K more)
Lynnwood, WA 98037 86%1,083$107,281$767,300$393 pricier homes ($137K more)
Everett, WA 98203 86%1,088$107,376$608,600$359 Very close on everything we compare
Kent, WA 98031 85%1,051$105,965$611,600$349 Very close on everything we compare
Seattle, WA 98108 85%1,063$95,780$720,400$423 pricier homes ($90K more)
Beaverton, OR 97078 84%934$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($152K less)
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 84%1,080$107,687$667,100$438 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Everett, WA 98208 84%1,085$103,705$691,500$388 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Lakewood, WA 98498 84%1,041$91,664$506,300$324 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Miami, FL 33176 83%2,254$86,354$638,900$426 Very close on everything we compare
Seattle, WA 98146 83%1,061$102,520$679,500$451 pricier homes ($49K more) · older homes
Waipahu, HI 96797 82%2,621$114,654$826,300$635 pricier homes ($196K more) · larger · older residents
Puyallup, WA 98372 82%1,040$98,152$589,900$325 cheaper homes ($41K less) · less walkable
Amityville, NY 11701 81%2,454$117,033$499,500$442 cheaper homes ($131K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 81%719$109,129$798,900$438 pricier homes ($168K more) · smaller
Pearl City, HI 96782 81%2,618$108,669$874,200$603 pricier homes ($243K more) · older residents
Federal Way, WA 98023 81%1,049$104,893$589,900$320 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 6 min longer commute
Renton, WA 98056 81%1,059$113,688$797,300$467 pricier homes ($167K more)
Bremerton, WA 98312 81%1,071$90,449$473,100$290 cheaper homes ($158K less)
Milton, WA 98354 81%1,044$96,866$536,800$358 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller
Sumner, WA 98390 81%1,040$97,795$510,000$341 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.